Turkey Holidays

If there is just one building that you have to visit whilst on your holidays to Turkey then the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is it. The building is more commonly referred to as the blue mosque due to the blue tiles which decorate the walls of its interior. Sultan Ahmed Mosque can be visited daily for free, but it’s important that you remember whilst on your Turkey holidays that the building is still working. Therefore you should aim to organise your visiting hours around the five daily prayer times. The mosque has six minarets and is best entered through the hippodrome which allows you to best experience the sheer scale of the building.

Another religious building that you may want to visit whilst on your Turkey holidays is the Hagia Sophia, considered by many architects to be one of the most important buildings ever constructed. Indeed in the 6th century when it was first completed the dome-shaped roof was considered to be a remarkable feat in engineering. Like many of the mosques in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia originally started out as a church and was once considered to be one of the important Christian churches in the world. It was certainly the biggest up until the time St. Peter’s Basilica was built in Rome. Nowadays the mosque has been overshadowed by its larger blue neighbour and, whilst one room in the Hagia Sophia is still used for prayers, the building is most commonly known for its use as a museum. On your holidays in Turkey make sure that you don’t miss taking a look at the tessarae, these tiny mosaic tiles are now 1500 years old and are currently in the midst of being restored to their original brilliance.

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Evil Eye
You will see these blue eye trinkets everywhere on your holidays in Turkey from pinned on the babygro of a newborn baby to painted on the tail-fins of the national air carrier. This is because the locals believe that envious gazes from others or high praise can bring around bad luck. The Evil Eye bead or Nazar Boncuk is commonly worn to ward away the bad spirits which piggyback on people’s words or looks. The Evil Eye charm is commonly a white eye set upon a blue background. The blue represents water which is a precious commodity in a dry country like Turkey. The Evil Eye is widely available as a souvenir and comes in many different forms from bracelets and hair slides to wind charms and tea-coasters, all of which can be purchased on your Turkey holidays.

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What was once the capital of Turkey is now a truly amazing location for a city break. Culturally, historically and literally divided between east and west – Asia and Europe, it makes for a fascinating city with plenty to see and do. Most of Turkey’s holiday makers will spend a good portion of time here, so here are some of the things you should see and do when visiting this enchanting city:

Old City Walls of Istanbul

Dating from back when Istanbul was Constantinople, the old city walls are rather hard to miss. Believed to be the largest fortress constructed in the Christian era, the various towers and extended fortification remain an incredible sight to see to this day. Although much of the walls have been dismantled as the city continued to grow beyond its medieval limits, a restoration programme has been underway since the 1980s and you can get a real glimpse of the imposing defence system on your Turkey holiday.

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